By SHELDON LONGLEY, NG Sports Editor

sheldon@nasguard.com

In the past two years, The Bahamas has lost its first and second Major League Baseball (MLB) players, and ironically, they were the best of friends. George Anthony Curry became the country's second former major leaguer to die in the past two years when he suddenly passed away early Monday morning at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

The 68-year-old former player with the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians organisations enjoyed a three-year career in the major leagues.

He was signed by the Phillies an amateur free agent in 1957, but didn't get his breakthrough professionally until the 1960 season. In his debut on April 12, 1960 as a 5'11", 185-pound outfielder for the Phillies, he had a hit in two at-bats.

At 21 years of age, he batted .261 that year with six home-runs and 34 RBIs. As his career progressed, the stout and consistent left-handed batter developed into one of the game's most feared hitters. As a matter of fact, at one point during his brief three-year MLB career, he even led the majors in hitting. "Tony Curry was a tremendous asset to the sport - his contribution put the sport on the market in The Bahamas," said Bahamas Baseball Federation's (BBF) General Secretary Teddy Sweeting. "His accomplishment was a tremendous feat, and it made Bahamians realise that they can play at that level. He will be greatly missed for his contributions. He has always been an adamant supporter of the development of the sport, and on behalf of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, I just want to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife and his immediate family." After a respectable rookie campaign in 1960, Curry stayed with the Phillies organisation for one more season before being traded to the Indians in a three-player deal prior to the 1962 season. In his final year in Philadelphia, he had just seven hits in 15 games and drove in three runs. He batted at a .194 clip.

After a brief hiatus, Curry returned to the major leagues in 1966. In 19 games for the Indians, he batted at a .125 clip with just two hits. He scored four times and drove in three runs in his third and what turned out to be his final season. Midway through that season, Curry was traded again, this time to the Houston Astros for minor league prospect Jim Gentile. Curry didn't appear in any games for the Astros. They traded him after the season to the California Angels for Howie Reed, and shortly afterwards, he retired from the sport he loved. His final professional game was played on July 10, 1966 for the Indians.

In total, Curry played in 129 major league games, with 73 hits, 33 runs scored, six home-runs, 40 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He had a career batting average of .246, and a career on-base percentage average of .295. He also had a career .879 fielding average, 104 put outs and just 10 errors from his outfield position.

"His death was a complete shock to me because I just spoke to him about a few weeks ago," said President of the Association of Former and Present Professional Baseball Players of The Bahamas, Vincent Ferguson. "It just so happens that we have arrived at adulthood where the first two are now passed away, and it's just a shame that the talents and knowledge of people like Tony and Andre were never fully acknowledged and taken advantage," he added.

Tony Curry will be sadly missed by his family, friends, baseball associates and the entire sporting community of The Bahamas.